Hitching-post.



P. T. DUNN.

HITCHING POST.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 25. 1912.

1, 1 20,041 Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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PATRICK 'I'. D UNN',

OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOXVA.

HITCHING-IPOST.

Application filed September 25, 1912.

To all "(O/t0!!! it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK T. DUNN, citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l'litching-Posts, of which the following .is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in hitching posts.

The primary object of the invention to provide a hitching post toanimals which when not in use may be disposed within a casing arranged below the surface oi the ground A further object of the invention is to provide a casing to receive the post Oil :1 construction which will permit the post to be readily lifted but which will retard its return movement to prevent damage to the post and the casing.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the post arranged within the casing; Fig. 2 is a perspectivi-i view illustrating the post in elevated position; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4t is a vertical elevation showing one section of the casing; Fig. 5 is a vertical elevation showing the interior of the other section of the casing and the post in elevated position; and F 6 is a detail perspective view of the post in disassembled relation.

In the drawings 10 designates the cylindrical casing which is formed in sections, each of which is provided with lugs 1.0. The two sections are bolted together, the sections being formed adjacent their base with semi-circular flanges 11. These flanges reintorce the base and provide a stop for the post which is disposed for longitudinal movement within the casing. The casing 10 is inserted within the ground, being provided at its upper end with the annular tapered member 12, the surtace 13 of which is on a level with the ground. The tapered wall 14- of the member 12 :lorms a seat for the cap of the post. The casing is formed interiorly with the vertically disposed groove 15 which extends from the base oi? the casing to a point adjacent its upper end. The groove is then curved and communicates with the groove 17, the Wall 18 of which lies parallel with the wall of the groove 15. A socket 19 is formed by the converging grooves 17 and 20, the apex 21 formed by the straight Wall 18 of the groove 17 and the obliquely disposed wall 22 of the groove Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 10cc. 8, 191.1 1.

Serial No. 722,348.

20 being disposed out of vertical aliueinent with the socket 19. The groove 20 extends toward the upper end of the casing and communicates with the sinuous groove 93 which is disposed throughout the length of the casing and communicates adjacent the base oi the casing with the vertical groove 15. The groove 23 branches at the point 25, the portion 213 oi said groove extei'lding to the upper end oil the casing.

The post 27 is cylindrical, being iiormcd at its upper end with. the head 28 which is beveled at 29. The post 27 and the head 28 may be joined in any desired manner, preferably by a screw connection such as shown at 2!). This head seats within the tapered member which is secured to the top of the casing, the end portion of the head being flush with the end portion of the tapered member when the post is disposed within the casing. The head is provided with a bail ill), the vertically extending iortions 31 of said. bail being disposed within openings 3s formed in the head, a portion oi? the head being removed as at 3-) to allow the bail to be conveniently lifted. This bail may be lifted in order to raise. the post, and provides an attaching means for the snap hook or other securing device which is supported by a chain secured to the bridle ot' the animal.

The post adjacent its base is provided with a pin or projection 3-1; which is disposed to ride within the grooves of the easing. In raising the post the projection 3i travels in the vertical groove 15. \Vhen the projection nears a point adjacent the u per end of the casing the same enters the groove 16, traveling to the end of said groove. The post is then released, the end 36 oi the groove 16 being disposed out of vertical alincmcnt with the groove 15, the pin, as the post descends entering the socket 19. 'When it is desired to replace the post in the casing the same is lifted, the curved groove 530 directing the movement of the pin toward the upper terminal of the groove 23, the apex of the triangle formed by the grooves 17 and 20 being disposed out of vertical alinement with the socket 19 deflecting the pin toward the slot 23 instead of the groove 17. The post may then be released, gradually descending within the casing, its down ward movement being retarded by the sinuous groove 23. As the pin nears the lower end of the casing the sinuous groove 23 will bring the pin in alinement with the vertical groove 15, thus positioning the pin at a point where the post need not be manipulated to bring the pin in alinement with the groove 15. When it is desired to remove the post for the purpose of cleaning the. casing the post is raised in a manner heretofore described, being allowed to descend to the point where the groove 23 is forked, being then raised the pin traveling in the portion 26 of said groove which extends to the upper end of the casing, the post in this manner being conveniently removed with out removing the casing from the ground.

The many advantages of a construction of this character will be clearly apparent as it will be noted that the post may be readily raised and supported in raised position and that in assuming its position within the easing its downward movement is so retarded as to prevent damage to the casing or to the post. It will be noted that if the post be raised and the same released before the pin enters the groove 16, the flange 11 will receive the impact of the blow, preventing damage to the casing.

Having described the invention, What I claim is:

1. A hitching post comprising a casing, a post disposed for vertical movement within the casing, said casing being provided interiorly with a vertically disposed groove, a pin carried by said post, said pin disposed to extend within said groove, a socket formed in the casing adjacent the upper terminal thereof and communicating with said groove, said casing being provided with a sinuous groove which communicates with said socket.

2. A hitching post comprising a casing, a post disposed for vetrical movement within the casing, a pin carried by said post, said casing being formed interiorly with a straight groove which communicates with a socket adjacent the upper terminal of the casing, and a sinuous groove which communicates with said socket and the lower terminal of the straight groove.

3. A hitching post comprising a casing, a post disposed for vertical movement within the casing, a pin carried by said post, said casing being formed interiorly with a straight groove which communicates with a socket adjacent theupper end of the casing, and a sinuous groove which communicates with said socket and with the straight groove adjacent the lower terminal of the casing, said sinuous groove being continued above said socket to the upper end of the casing.

4. A hitching post comprising a casing, a post disposed for vertical movement within the casing, a pin carried by said post, said casing being formed interiorly with grooves, said pin extending within said grooves, one of said grooves permitting the post to be moved vertically in a straight line, the other groove causing the post to rotate to retard its return movement, there being a socket pro vided in the casing adjacent its upper end with which said grooves communicate.

5. A hitching post comprising a casing, a post disposed for vertical. movement within the casing, said casing being formed interiorly with grooves, a projection carried by the post and disposed to extend within the grooves, one of the grooves being substantially straight and the other sinuous, the grooves being connected in a manner whereby the projection of the post travels in the straight groove as the post is raised and in the sinuous groove as the post is lowered.

6. A hitching post comprising a casing, a post disposed for vertical movement within the casing, said casing being formed interiorly with grooves, a projection carried by the post and disposed to extend within the grooves, one of the grooves being substantially straight and the other sinuous, the grooves being connected in a manner whereby the projection of'the post travels in the strai ht groove as the post is raised and in the sinuous groove as the post is lowered, the straight groove terminating at a point adjacent the top of the casing, the sinuous groove being formed with a branch which extends to the top of the casing.

7. A hitching post comprising telescoping members, one of which constitutes the casing and the other the post, one of the members being formed with grooves and the other with a projection disposed to enter the grooves, the grooves permitting the post to move freely when it is raised and retarding its downward movement.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK T. DUNN. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

ANTHONY TLUsTY,

CHAS. M. Mel-Icon.

Copies of this patent may. he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents.

Washington, 1. 5'3. 

